The vision of William concerning Piers the Plowman, together with Vita de Dowel, Dobet, et Dobest, secundum Wit et Resoun, by William Langland (about 1362-1393 A. D.)

PASSUS IV.

[[Passus, &c.] THUD.] [Passus Quartus de Visione.]

"SEseþ," seide þe kyng · "I suffre ȝou no more. [suffre ȝou] ne mote ȝe H. more] lengere TUD.] Ȝe schulle sauȝtene forsoþe · and serue me boþe. [Sauȝtene] sauȝte T; saghtlyn U; in H acoorde is written, as a gloss, above saȝtene; saghten D.] Cusse hire," quaþ þe kyng · "Concience, Ich hote." [Cusse] Kisse TH; kys D.] "Nay, be Crist," quod Concience · "Congeye me raþer! [Crist] god TUD. congeye] cunge TU; counge D.] Bote Reson Rede me þer-to · Arst wol I dye!" [Rede] radde H; rewle D. arst] erst T; first U. arst—dye] leuer hadde I deyȝe H.] Line 5 ¶ "And I comaunde þe," quod þe kyng · to Concience þenne, [þenne] as swiþe H.] "Þat þou Rape þe to ride · And Reson þou fette; [þat þou] TUD omit. and] H omits. þou] þat þou TD; þou me U; to H.] Comaunde him þat he come · my Counseil to here. Line 8 For he schal reule my Reame · and Rede me þe beste [me] me for H.] Of Meede, and of oþer mo · and what mon schal hir wedde; [oþer mo] mo oþere TU. and what] what TUD. wedde] haue H.] And A-Counte with Concience · (so me [Crist] helpe!) [a-counte] counte TUD. with] wiþ þee H. [Crist T] god VHUD.] How þou ledest my peple · Lered and Lewed." [ledest my] lerist þe TD; lernest my H; rewliste þe U.] Line 12 ¶ "I am Fayn of þat foreward" · seide þe Freike þenne, [seide] quod H. Freike] frek TH; freek U; frayk D.] And Rod riht to [Reson] · and Rouned in his Ere, [Rod riht] rideþ riȝt H; riȝt renneþ TUD. [Reson] So in THUD; V has Concience, which is clearly wrong. Rouned] rouniþ TH; rownes UD.]

Seyde as þe kyng sende · and seþþe tok his leue. [Seyde] Seide hym TD; & seide H. sende] him sente U; bade H. seþþe] siþþe TH; sitthe U; sethen D.] ¶ "I schal araye me to Ride," quod Reson · "Reste þe a while"— Line 16 And clepte Caton his knaue · Curteis of speche— [And] he H. clepte] calde TUD. Caton] conscience U.] "Sette my Sadel vppon Soffre- · til-I-seo-my-tyme, [soffre] soffre, quoþ he H.] And loke þou warroke him wel · wiþ swiþe feole gurþhes; [loke þou warroke] let warroke TUD. swiþe—gurþhes] riȝtful gerþis TU; wytful gartys D.] Hong on him an heui Bridel · to bere his hed lowe, [an] þe THD. to bere] to holde TD; & hoold U.] Line 20 Ȝit wol he make moni a whi · er he come þere." [he] we TD (wrongly). moni a whi] many wehe TU; many a wehe H; many wey D. er he] er we TU; or he H; or we D.]

ÞEnne Concience on his Capul · Carieþ forþ Faste, [carieþ] cairiþ T; caried HD.] And Resun with him Rideþ · Rappynge Swiþe; [Rideþ] rit T; right U. Rap|pynge swiþe] & rapiþ hym ȝerne TH; & rapide hym faste U; & hastid hem swiþe H. D omits this line.] Bote on a wayn [witti] · and wisdame I-feere [folio 397a:2] [

Ac vnwary wisdom · & witty his (wyt his ovne D) fere TD;

Ac on-were wysdom · & wytty his fere U;

& in a wayn wysdome · and witty his fere H.

V has Bote on a wayn wyd, &c. which gives no sense; see Folweden in next line. N.B. V has witti in l. 141 below.

] Line 24 Folweden hem faste · for þei hedden to done [hem faste] faste forþ U.] In Esscheker and Chauncelrie · to ben descharget of þinges; [Esscheker] cheker TUH₂D; court HU. chauncelrie] in chauncelrie H; in chauncerie TD; in þe chancerye U. ben descharget] deschargen hem H.] And Riden faste, for Reson · schulde Reden hem þe beste [& for reson shulde reule hem · & rede hem for þe best H.] For to sauen hem-self · from schome and from harme. [& saue hem fram harme · fram shame also H.] ¶ Bote Concience com arst · to Court bi A Myle, [Myle] myle wey TUD.] Line 29 And Romede forþ bi Reson · Riht to þe kyng. [Romede] rombide T; rowned U. bi] wiþ THU; D omits. Riht] & rauȝt H.]

COrteisliche þe kyng · þenne com to Resoun, [þenne—Resoun] þanne com in to resoun TU; welcomed resoun H.] Bitwene himself and his sone · sette him on Benche, [Bitwene] And betwyn TD. him|self] hym U. on] a T. H omits this line.]

And wordeden a gret while · wysliche to-gedere. [wordeden] speken H. wysliche] wel wisly TU.] Line 33 Þene Pees com to parlement · and put vp a Bille, [Pees com] com pes THD. vp] forth U. Bille] bulle H.] Hou þat Wrong aȝeyn his wille · his wyf hedde I-take, [his—I-take] hadde his wyf take THU; D omits hadde.] And [hou] he Rauischede Rose · Reynaldes lemmon, [V omits hou, but it is in THUD. lemmon] loue TUD; douȝter H.] Line 36 And Mergrete of hire Maydenhod · maugre hire chekes. [Mergrete] molde H.] "Boþe my Gees and my Grys · [his] gadelynges fetten; [[his] V has þe, but this is in|ferior to his, which is in THUD. fetten] fecchen THU. gadelynges fet|ten] gadlyng fecches D.] I dar not for dreede of hem · fihte ne chide. [dar] durst H; þer D. dreede of] U omits; fer of TD.] He Borwede of me Bayȝard · and brouhte him neuer aȝeyn, Line 40 Ne no Ferþing him fore · for nouȝt þat I con plede. [Ferþing—fore] ferþing þerfore TD; ferthyngworth þerfore U; ferþing for hym H. nouȝt—plede] nouȝt I couþe plete T; ouȝt þat I cowde pleden H; ought I coude plete U; nouȝt y couþe plede D.] He meynteneþ his Men · to Morþere myn owne, [to morþere] forto sle H. owne] hynen TD; hyne U.] Forstalleþ my Feire · Fihteþ in my chepynges, [Feire] feires HTD. chepynges] chepynge THUD.] Brekeþ vp my Berne-dore · and bereþ awei my whete, [dore] dores HTUD.] And takeþ me bote a tayle · of Ten quarter oten; [bote] þen H. of ten] for ten TUD. oten] of otis T; otes U; ootis H; otys D.] Line 45 And ȝit he bat me þerto · and liȝþ be my Mayden. [bat] betiþ THUD.] I nam not so hardi for him · vp for to loke." [

vp for] vneþis H.

And I am not hardy vnneþe · on hym for to loke TD;

And I am noght so hardy · ones on hym to loke U.

] Þe kyng kneuh he seide sooþ · for Concience him tolde. [þe—kneuh] þo kneuȝ þe kinge TU; That knewe þe kyng D. H has, þe king seide, þis is soþ · for conscience hit me tolde.] ¶ Wrong was a-Fert þo · and Wisdam souhte [a-fert] aferd THD; aferid U. souhte] he souȝte THD; bysoughte U.] Line 49 To Make his pees with pons · and proferde forþ Moneye, [pons] his panis T; penyes H; his pens U; his pans D. forþ Moneye] hym manye TD; manye U.]

And seide, "Hedde I loue of þe kyng · luite wolde I recche [

H omits. TUD read,

And seide, hadde I loue of my lord þe kinge · litil wolde I recche;

but in UD the last half-verse is at the beginning of the next line; in V we should perhaps read, of my lord.

] Þauh pees and his pouwer · playneden on me euere!" [but pes wiþ his powere · play|ned on hym euere H. þauh] if U. on me] hem T; hym UD. D omits and his pouwer.] ¶ Wisdam wente þo · and so dude Wit, [wente] wan to T; wan U; ran D. dude wit] dede wyt also TUD; dide hym witt H.] Line 53 And for wrong hedde I-do · so wikked a dede [And for] For þat THUD. I-do] ywrouȝt H; wrouȝt TD; don U.] And warnede wrong þo · with such a wys tale; [þo] U omits. a wys tale] wyse talys D.] "Whose worcheþ bi wil · wraþþe makeþ ofte; [wraþþe makeþ] makiþ wraþþe H.] Line 56 I sigge hit bi þi-seluen · þou schalt hit sone fynde. [I sigge] we say H. þi-seluen] my-self TUD.] Bote ȝif Meede make hit · þi Mischef is vppe, [Bote—hit] But mede þi pees make U. þi] TD omit.] For boþe þi lyf and þi lond · liȝþ in þe kynges grace." [lond] lyme H. liȝþ—kynges] liþ in his TD; liþ in here H; ben in his U.]

Wro[n]g þenne vppon Wisdom · wepte to helpe, [Wrong] THUD. vppon] on TU. wepte] wepiþ TD. to helpe] to helpe hym at nede U; to hym helpe; hym to helpe T.] Line 60 Him for his handidandi · Rediliche he payede. [

For of hise penys he proffride · handy dandy to paye T;

For right þer of is handy dandy payd U;

For of his handy-dandy payd (sic) D.

] Þene wisdam and wit · wente to-gedere, And nomen Meede with hem · Merci to wynne. [nomen] toke THD; token U.] ¶ Pees putte forþ his hed · and his ponne blodi: [ponne] panne TUDH₂; hode H. ponne blodi] blody panne U. (In D Blody begins the next line.)] Line 64 "Withouten gult, god wot · gat I þis scaþe." [gat] hent H.] ¶ Concience and þe kyng · knewen þe soþe; [U omits. Concience—kyng] þe king & conscience H. knewen] kneuȝ wel TD.] Wusten wel þat wrong · was a schrewe euere. [Wusten] And wisten THUD.] ¶ But wisdam and wit · weoren ȝeorne aboute faste [weoren ȝeorne] were THUD.] Line 68

Line 68 To ouercome þe kyng · with [catel] ȝif heo mihten. [[catel TUD] Meede VH.] ¶ Þe kyng swor þo bi crist · and bi his Coroune boþe, [þo] THUD omit.] Þat wrong for his werkes · schulde wo þole, [TUD omit this line.] And Comaundede A Constable · to casten him in Irens. [T omits this line; UD omit down to Constable.] "He ne schal þis seuen ȝer · seon his feet ones." [ne schal] shal not H; shulde not T. to casten hym in yrens he schal þis vij ȝer sen his fet onys (!) U; D similar, but has he schal not.] Line 73 ¶ "God wot," quaþ wisdam · "þat weore not þe beste; And he amendes make · let Meynprise him haue; [And] ȝef H. make] mowe make TU; wol make H.] And beo borw of his bale · and buggen him bote, [born of] borugh for T; brouȝt of H; borw for U; borow for D. buggen] bringen T; bigge HU; beggyn D.] Line 76 And a-Menden his misdede · and euer-more þe bettre." [And] TUD omit, his] þat UD; þat he T. þe] do þe U.] ¶ Wit a-Cordede herwith · and seide him þe same: [him] TUD omit. D is corrupt.] "Hit is betere þat boote · Bale a-doun bringe [Hit is betere] Betere is THUD.] Þen Bale be beten · and boote neuer þe better." [beten] bote U.] Line 80

ÞEnne Meede Meokede hire · And Merci bi-souhte, [Meede Meokede] gan mede to meke TUD.] And profrede pees a present · al of pure Red gold: [pure Red] purid TH; pure U; pured D.] "Haue þis of me," quod heo · "to Amende with þi scaþe, [me] me, man TUD. with] TUD omit.] For Ichul wage for wrong · he wol do so no more." [Ichul] y wile T; y wol HU; I wyl D. wol] shal TUD.] Line 84 Pees þenne pitously · preyede þe kyng To haue merci on þat Mon · þat mis-dude him ofte: "For he haþ waget me a-mendes · as wisdam him tauhte, [For—a-mendes] For he haþ wagid me wel TUD; For he hadde wagid hym wel H.] I Forȝiue him þat gult · with a good wille; [him—gult] þee þis gult quod pees H.] Line 88 So þat ȝe assented beo · I con no more sigge; [þat—beo] ȝe assente þerto TU; ȝe Assente D; þat ȝe assent, my lord H. no—sigge] sey no more TUD.]

For Meede haþ maad me amendes · I may no more aske." [H omits this line. Meede] he U. me amendes] my mendis TD. aske] axen TU; axe D.] ¶ "Nay," quod þe kyng þo · "(so god ȝiue me blisse!) [god] crist U.] Wrong went not so awei · til ich wite more; [went] wendiþ THU; wendes D. til] er TU; or D.] Line 92 Lope he so lihtliche awei · lauȝwhen he wolde, [for yf he lept so liȝtly · he wolde vs alle scorn H. awei] U omits. lauȝwhen] lauȝen T; laghen U; lawhen D.] And eft be þe baldore · forte beten myne [hynen;] [eft] ofte THUD. baldore] boldere HTD; baldere U. forte, &c.] to bete my hynen TUD; to mysdo my puple H. V omits hynen] Bote Reson haue reuþe of him · he resteþ in þe stokkes [of] on TDHU. resteþ in þe] shal reste hym in þe TD; schal resten in U; shal into þe H.] Also longe as I lyue · bote more loue hit make." [Also longe] As long TUD; be as longe H.] Line 96 ¶ Þenne summe Radde Reson · to haue reuþe of þat schrewe, [þenne] TD omit. summe] summe men TD; U omits. of] on THUD.] And to Counseile þe kyng · and Concience boþe, [to counseile] þo conseilede U.] Þat Meede moste be Meynpernour · Reson heo bi-souȝte. [heo bisouȝte] þei besouȝte TUD; þei preied H.]

"Rede me not," quod Reson · "Reuþe to haue, [Rede] Rediþ H. Reuþe] no reuþe TUD; reuþe for H.] Line 100 Til lordes, and ladies · louen alle treuþe, And perneles porfyl · be put in heore whucche; [porfyl] purfile TH; purfil U; purfyl D. whucche] hucche TU; whicche H; huche D.] Til children Chereschinge · be chastet wiþ ȝerdes, [children] childris T; childrens H; childrenes U. chereschinge] chiding H. chastet] chastid U; chasted D; chastisid TH.] Til harlotes holynesse · be holden for an hyne; [Til] And THUD. holynesse] harlotrie U. be—hyne] be preised ful hiȝe H (TUH₂D like V). an] any D.] Line 104 Til Clerkes and knihtes · ben Corteis of heore Mouþes, [folio 397b:1] [Clerkes—knihtes] kniȝtes & clerkis H.] And haten to don heor harlotrie · and vsun hit no more; [to don] TD omit. don] U omits. heor] H omits. and—more] oþer mouþe it with tungis T; & no more it vsen H; or mouthe it hem|selue U; oþer hit mouþen D.]

Til prestes heore prechyng · preuen hit in hem-seluen, [U omits the line. in] TH omit. preuen hit in] preued D.] And don hit in dede · to drawen vs to gode; [vs—gode] men to goode H.] Line 108 Til seint Iame beo I-souht · þer I schal a-signe, [H omits these lines.] And no mon go to Galys · bote he go for euere; [And] þat TUD. bote] but ȝif T; but yf D.] And alle Rome Renners · for Robbeours of bi-ȝonde [And] til H. alle] alle þe T. Robbeours] Robberis THUD.] Bere no seluer ouer see · þat bereþ signe of þe kyng, [bereþ—kyng] signe of kinge shewide T; coyn of kyng schewith U; syne of kyng schewith D.] Nouþer Grotes ne gold I-graue · with þe kynges Coroune, [Neiþer grotis ne gold · ygraue wiþ kinges coyn TUD.] Vppon Forfet of þat Fe · hose hit fynde at douere, [Vppon Forfet] For faytour D. þat] þe H. hose—douere] who fynt hym do euere TD; whoso fynt hit at douere H; who fynt hym diuerse U.] Bote hit beo Marchaund oþur his men · or Messager with lettres, [Marchaund] messingere H. men] man TUD. Messager] mes|sangeris T. or—lettres] þat wiþ hym beriþ lettris H.] Or Prouisours or Preestes · þat Popes a-vaunset. [Or—Preestes] oþer prestis oþer prouisours H; oþer prouisour or prest TUD. Popes avaunset] þe pope auaunciþ TUD; popis doþ auaunce H.] Line 116 ¶ And ȝit (quod Reson) bi þe Roode · I schal no reuþe haue, [ȝit] D omits. schal] wol U.] While Meede haþ eny Maystrie · to Mooten in þis halle; [eny] þe TUD. Mooten] moten U; mo T; moo D.] [Ac y mai schewe ȝow ensamples · y seie be myselue]. [From U. Also in T, which has Ac I may shewe ensaumplis · as I se forsoþe; D like T, but omits forsoþe. The line is not in V or H.] ¶ For I sigge hit for my soule · And hit so weore [U omits down to soule. for—soule] be myself T; myself H.] Line 120 Þat Ich weore kyng with Croune · to kepen a Reame, [kyng—croune] a king crown|ed H. kepen] gouern H. UD mis|written, including part of l. 120.] Scholde neuer wrong in þis world · þat Ich I-wite mihte, [neuer] no D. wrong] U omits. Iwite mihte] myȝte wete D.] Ben vn-punissched beo my pouwer · for peril of my soule! [beo] be U; by D; at THH₂.] Ne gete grace þorw ȝift · (so me [god] helpe!) [grace þorw] my grace by H; my grace þoruȝ T; my grace with UD. ȝift] giftes TD; ȝeftis H; ȝiftes U. [god] So in THUD; V has gold.] Line 124

Line 124 Ne for Meede haue Merci · but Mekenesse hit make. [

H varies, reading,

for loke what þese wordis seyn · þat writen beþ in latyn.

Meede] no mede TUD. make] made TUD.

] For nullum malum þe Mon mette · [with] inpunitum, [In these lines H has only the Latin words.] [

For nullum malum · he may mete with Inpunitum TD;

For nullum malum · inpunitum þe may mete with U. [with TUD] with-outen V.

] And bad nullum bonum · be irremuneratum. [In these lines H has only the Latin words.] [bad] bad quod (!) D. be] TUD omit.] Let þi Clerk, sire kyng · Construe þis in Englisch; [Clerk] clerkis H; confessour TUD. þis in] it þe on TD; it þe in U.] And ȝif þou worchest hit in wit · Ich wedde boþe myn Eres, [worchest—wit] werche þis werk T; worche it in werk UD; werchest þer-after H. Ich wedde] y lay H. boþe] TD omit.] Line 129 Þat lawe schal ben a laborer · and leden a-feld dounge, [a-feld] to feld U; on felde D.] And loue schal leden þi lond · as þe leof lykeþ." [þe leof] þe lefe T; þe best U; þy self H; þe lef D.]

Clerkes þat were confessours · Coupled hem to-gedere, [Clerkes—confessours] þo alle þe grete clerkis H.] Forte Construe þis Clause · and distinkte hit after. [and—after] declynede fast TH₂; & declyne aftir U; & wite what it mened H; declyned it faste D.] Whon Resun to þis Reynkes · Rehersede þeose wordes, [Whon—reynkes] Ac resoun amonge þise renkis T; Ac whan resoun among þe renges U; but when resoun among hem H; Ac resoun among þe reules had D.] Nas non in þat Moot-halle · more ne lasse, [Nas non] þer nas no man TD; þer nas man HU. þat Moot-halle] þe court H.] Þat ne held Reson a Mayster þo · And Meede a muche wrecche. [þo] TUD omit. wrecche] shrewe H.] Line 136 Loue lette of Meede luite · and louh hire to scorn, [Meede luite] hire liȝt TUD; hire liȝtly H.] And seide hit so loude · þat soþnesse hit herde, [seide] gredde U. so] to D.] "Hose wilneþ hire to wyue · for weolþe of hire godes, [wyue] wyf H.] Bote he beo A Cokewold I-kore · cut of boþe myn Eres!" [I-kore] ycald TU; ykyd H; I-callid H₂; called D. boþe myn eres] myne eeris H; my nose TUD.] ¶ Was nouþer wisdam þo · ne witti his feere, [Was—þo] Warne wisdom þo TD; I warne þat wysdom H; Vnwar was wisdom U. witti] no wyt T; ynwit U. ne—feere] & wyt his owne fere D.] Line 141

Line 141 Þat couþe warpen a word · to with-siggen Reson; [U omits this line. þat—warpen] ne couþe seie H; couþe nouȝt warpen TD. with-siggen] aȝen|seie H.] Bote stareden for studiing · and stooden as Bestes. [stareden—studiing] stareden & studeden H; staringe & stodyenge TD; starende & studiande U. and stooden] stoden TD; stode forþ U.] ¶ Þe kyng acordede, bi crist · to Resons Connynge, [acordede] a-cord H. con|nynge] kunnyng H; sawis TUD.] And rehersede þat Reson hedde · Rihtfoliche I-schewet: [hedde] TD omit.] "Bote hit is hard, be myn hed · herto hit bringe, [hard] wel hard T; wol hard U; ful hard D. herto—bringe] herto to bringe it T; it þer to to brynge U · herto to brynge D.] Line 146 Al my lige leodes · to lede þus euene." [þat eny lyuyng men · shulde lede hem þus euen H. Al] And alle T. leodes] ledes TUD. þus] hem þus TUD.] ¶ "Bi him þat rauhte on þe Roode," · quod Reson to þe kyng, [rauhte] deiȝede T; rest hym H; deyde D.] Line 148 "Bote I Rule þus þi Reame · Rend out my Ribbes! [Bote] But ȝif TD. þi] ȝoure D. out] of U.] Ȝif hit beo so þat Boxumnesse · beo at myn assent." [so] TD omit. beo at] be of HUD.] ¶ "Ich assente," quod þe kyng · "bi seinte Marie mi ladi, [quod þe kyng] H omits.] Beo my counseil I-come · of Clerkes and of Erles. [of erles] erlis T; of kniȝtis H.] Line 152 ¶ Bote Rediliche Reson · þou Rydest not heonnes, [Rydest, &c.] shalt not wende henne T; schalt not riden henne U; shalt wende henne D (sic).] For as longe as I liue · lette þe I nulle." [H varies, reading For into my deþday · we nele not depart. lette—nulle] loue þe I wile TUD.] ¶ "Icham Redi," quod Reson · "to Reste with þe euere; So þat Concience beo vr counseiler · kepe I no betere." [þat] TUD omit. vr counseiler] of oure counseil HU; of ȝour counseil TD.] ¶ "I graunte gladly," quod þe kyng · "God forbeode he fayle [gladly] wel H; TUD omit. God—fayle] godis forbode he faille (failed U) TU; god forbede I fayle D.] Line 157 And also longe as I lyue · leue we to-gedere." [And also] As TUD; for as H. I] we H. leue] libbe TUH₂D; loue H.]